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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Report 2006-9U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
December 2010
Anna Harris
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs
Division of Policy and Programs
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Arlington, VA
This report is intended to complement the National and State Reports for the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The conclusions in this report are the author’s and do not represent official positions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The author thanks Sylvia Cabrera, Richard Aiken, and Christy Vigfusson for valuable input into this report.
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Report 2006-92 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Contents
Introduction � 3
Participation and Days by Water Type � � 4
All Boaters � 4
Freshwater Boaters � 5
Saltwater Boaters � 8
Great Lakes Boaters � 10
Boater Demographics � 11
Boat Type, Length, and Completion of Boater Safety Course � 13
Who Boaters Take Fishing and What Information They Need � 14
Anglers Fishing Alone or with Others � 14
Types of Information Boaters Need � 14
Sources of Boating Information � 14
Sources of Boating Information By Age � � 14
Boat Launches � 16
State-by-State Launch Use � 17
Launch Facility Improvement Opinions � 21
Boater Expenditures � 24
Conclusion � 25
Appendix: Launch Facility Improvement Opinions by Census Region � 26
Tables
Table 1. Anglers Fishing From Boats and Days of Participation by Type of Fishing � 4
Table 2. Freshwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred � 5
Table 3. Days Freshwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred � 6
Table 4. Saltwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred � 8
Table 5. Days Saltwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred � 9
Table 6. Great Lakes Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred � 10
Table 7. Days Great Lakes Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred � 10
Table 8. Boater Demographics � 12
Table 9. Boat Type, Length and Completion of Boater Safety Course � 13
Table 10. Anglers Fishing Most Often From Boats Alone or With Others � 14
Table 11. Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats � 15
Table 12. Sources of Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats by Age � 15
Table 13. Boat Launches Used by Anglers � 16
Table 14. Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters � � 17
Table 15. Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters � 19
Table 16. Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters � 20
Table 17. Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions � 21
Table 18. Expenditures by Boaters for Freshwater, Great Lakes and Saltwater Fishing � 24
Table A.1. Freshwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region � 27
Table A.2. Saltwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region � 28
Table A.3. Great Lakes Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region � 28
Figures
Figure 1. Average Days Freshwater Anglers Fish From a Boat � � 7
Figure 2. Average Days Saltwater Anglers Fish From a Boat � 9
Figure 3. Average Days Great Lakes Anglers Fish From a Boat � 10
Figure 4. Percent of Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters � 18
Figure 5. Percent of Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters � 19
Figure 6. Percent of Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters � 20
Figure 7. Most Requested Freshwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region � 22
Figure 8. Most Requested Saltwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region � 23Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 3
Introduction
Seventeen million anglers, 16 years of
age and older, enjoyed their fishing from
a boat in the varied fresh and marine
waters of the U.S. in 2006. They spent
over 246 million days on the water. This
report presents an analysis of their
boat use, expenditures, and selected
demographic characteristics. For
purposes of this report these individuals
are referred to as “boaters” and the types
of water fished on as either saltwater,
Great Lakes, or freshwater (excluding
the Great Lakes).
All estimates herein came from the 2006
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
(Survey). The Survey has been conducted
since 1955 and is one of the most
comprehensive databases on wildlife
recreation in the U.S. The focus of the
Survey is on anglers, hunters and wildlife
watchers—not all outdoor enthusiasts.
Therefore, this report only captures
fishing from boats—not all recreational
boating.1
1 According to the National Marine
Manufacturers Association there were 66
million adult boaters in 2009 (NMMA. 2009
Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract.
Chicago, IL).
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
4 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Participation and Days by Water Type
All Boaters
Fifty-seven percent of all anglers (17
million people) used a boat to fish in 2006
(Table 1). Forty-eight percent (246 million
days) of all fishing days were spent on
a boat.
As for the type of fishing, almost three
quarters of anglers in the Great Lakes
fished from a boat in 2006. Great Lakes
anglers also spent the biggest proportion
of their time aboard, spending 60% of
their fishing days on a boat. Almost 70%
of saltwater anglers fished from a boat
and more than half of freshwater anglers
fished from a boat. Saltwater anglers
spent 59% of their fishing days on a boat
compared to only 44% of freshwater
fishing days spent on a boat.
Table 1. Anglers Fishing From Boats and Days of Participation by Type of Fishing
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Participants and days of fishing
Total, all fishing
Freshwater, excludes
Great Lakes Great Lakes Saltwater
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total anglers 29,952 100 25,035 100 1,420 100 7,717 100
Anglers fishing from boats 17,035 57 13,073 52 1,054 74 5,304 69
Total days of fishing 516,781 100 419,942 100 18,016 100 85,663 100
Days fishing from boats 246,038 48 185,074 44 10,728 60 50,236 59
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponses.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 5
Freshwater Boaters
A state-by-state analysis of freshwater boaters reveals that Minnesota, which prides itself on being the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” has the largest number of boaters and the highest percent of freshwater anglers fishing from boats (Table 2).
Wisconsin has the second largest number of freshwater boaters (885 thousand) while Florida ranks third in participation with 836 thousand boaters. Seventy-nine percent of freshwater anglers in Minnesota fished from boats, followed closely by Wisconsin (71%) and Michigan (70%). There are nine states where boat use by freshwater anglers is 60% or higher (Alabama, Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).
Table 2. Freshwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Anglers
Boaters
Percent
US Total
25,035
13,073
52
Alaska
191
91
48
Alabama
714
465
65
Arkansas
655
403
62
Arizona
422
195
46
California
1,224
620
51
Colorado
660
166
25
Connecticut
204
85
42
Delaware
58
31
54
Florida
1,417
836
59
Georgia
1,025
559
54
Hawaii
22
…
…
Iowa
438
193
44
Idaho
350
164
47
Illinois
777
359
46
Indiana
677
311
46
Kansas
404
168
42
Kentucky
721
321
44
Louisiana
549
324
59
Massachusetts
292
133
45
Maryland
364
142
39
Maine
303
204
67
Michigan
1,192
828
70
Minnesota
1,381
1,086
79
Missouri
1,076
535
50
Mississippi
508
253
50
Montana
291
148
51
North Carolina
884
362
41
North Dakota
106
60
56
Nebraska
198
69
35
New Hampshire
198
125
63
New Jersey
243
128
53
New Mexico
248
52
21
Nevada
142
49
35
New York
741
344
46
Ohio
982
275
28
Oklahoma
611
318
52
Oregon
491
253
52
Pennsylvania
914
434
48
Rhode Island
50
24
49
South Carolina
612
386
63
South Dakota
135
83
62
Tennessee
871
463
53
Texas
1,860
696
37
Utah
375
172
46
Virginia
622
303
49
Vermont
114
64
56
Washington
538
308
57
Wisconsin
1,253
885
71
West Virginia
376
98
26
Wyoming
203
81
40
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.6 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Anglers spent a total of 185 million days aboard a boat in freshwater, with an average of 13 days fishing from boats (Table 3).
There were 16 states with above average days (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas). Massachusetts and Alabama tied with the highest average of 18 days. Florida followed closely with an average of 17 days spent boating in freshwater. Alaska had the lowest freshwater boating days with an average of 6 days.
Table 3. Days Freshwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Days Fishing from Boats
Average Days Boating
US Total
185,074
13
Alaska
569
6
Alabama
8,196
18
Arkansas
5,842
15
Arizona
1,995
10
California
4,266
7
Colorado
1,591
10
Connecticut
1,234
14
Delaware
453
14
Florida
13,903
17
Georgia
8,139
15
Hawaii
…
…
Iowa
1,913
10
Idaho
1,759
11
Illinois
4,749
13
Indiana
3,421
11
Kansas
1,709
10
Kentucky
2,873
9
Louisiana
4,471
14
Massachusetts
2,383
18
Maryland
1,369
10
Maine
1,771
9
Michigan
11,470
14
Minnesota
16,384
15
Missouri
7,409
14
Mississippi
3,935
16
Montana
1,033
7
North Carolina
3,931
11
North Dakota
431
7
Nebraska
909
13
New Hampshire
1,294
10
New Jersey
1,569
12
New Mexico
373
7
Nevada
339
7
New York
2,776
8
Ohio
2,660
10
Oklahoma
4,547
15
Oregon
2,257
9
Pennsylvania
5,654
13
Rhode Island
252
10
South Carolina
5,784
15
South Dakota
703
8
Tennessee
7,437
16
Texas
10,810
16
Utah
1,120
7
Virginia
2,933
10
Vermont
507
8
Washington
3,312
11
Wisconsin
10,843
12
West Virginia
1,071
11
Wyoming
610
8
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 7
Figure 1. Average Days Freshwater Anglers Fish From a Boat
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 13 Days
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national average
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing8 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Saltwater Boaters
Saltwater anglers’ boating participation ranged from 90% in Alaska to 48% in North Carolina (Table 4).
Over 80% of saltwater anglers in Louisiana and New Jersey used a boat in 2006. In terms of participation, Florida has the most saltwater boaters with over 1.5 million.
Table 4. Saltwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Anglers
Boaters
Percent
US Total
7,717
5,304
69
Alaska
180
162
90
Alabama
153
94
62
California
761
542
71
Connecticut
157
101
65
Delaware
117
70
60
Florida
2,002
1,513
76
Georgia
146
*84
*57
Hawaii
154
86
56
Louisiana
289
245
84
Massachusetts
298
204
69
Maryland
372
291
78
Maine
100
49
49
Mississippi
*66
*37
*57
North Carolina
519
250
48
New Hampshire
47
32
69
New Jersey
496
408
82
New York
291
221
76
Oregon
150
109
72
Rhode Island
122
82
67
South Carolina
325
181
56
Texas
1,147
633
55
Virginia
352
256
73
Washington
286
186
65
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 9
Saltwater anglers spent 50 million days fishing from boats in 2006 (Table 5).
Nationally, anglers spent on average 9 days boating in saltwater. Seven states had higher average days than the U.S. total (Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Texas). New Hampshire, the state with the shortest ocean coastline of any U.S. coastal state, had the lowest average of 3 days spent fishing from a boat in saltwater.
Figure 2. Average Days Saltwater Anglers Fish From a Boat
Table 5. Days Saltwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in Thousands)
Days Fishing from Boats
Average Days Boating
US Total
50,236
9
Alaska
788
5
Alabama
346
4
California
4,977
9
Connecticut
1,082
11
Delaware
360
5
Florida
13,783
9
Georgia
*1,239
*15
Hawaii
481
6
Louisiana
2,503
10
Massachusetts
2,186
11
Maryland
2,318
8
Maine
315
6
Mississippi
*449
*12
North Carolina
1,519
6
New Hampshire
107
3
New Jersey
3,629
9
New York
2,722
13
Oregon
569
5
Rhode Island
606
7
South Carolina
1,351
8
Texas
6,033
10
Virginia
1,783
7
Washington
1,091
6
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 9 Days
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national average10 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Great Lakes Boaters
Seventy-four percent of all anglers in the Great Lakes used a boat to fish during 2006 (Table 6).
In the Great Lake states, Indiana had the highest reportable boater participation with 89% of its anglers fishing from a boat, Ohio anglers used boats 80% of the time and Illinois ranked third with 77%. Michigan had the largest number of boaters in the Great Lakes (350 thousand).
The days anglers spent fishing from boats in the Great Lakes totaled 10.7 million in 2006 (Table 7). The average number of days spent fishing from a boat in the Great Lakes was 10. Michigan had the largest number of days (4.3 million) while Indiana had the highest average days anglers fished from a boat (17 days).
Figure 3. Average Days Great Lakes Anglers Fish From a Boat
Table 6. Great Lakes Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Anglers
Boaters
Percent
US Total
1,420
1,054
74
Illinois
*56
*43
*77
Indiana
*46
*41
*89
Michigan
461
350
76
Minnesota
*48
…
…
New York
247
157
64
Ohio
328
263
80
Pennsylvania
*85
*47
*55
Wisconsin
235
164
70
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Table 7. Days Great Lakes Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Days Fishing from Boats
Average Days Boating
US Total
10,728
10
Illinois
*292
*7
Indiana
*667
*17
Michigan
4,318
13
Minnesota
…
…
New York
1,269
8
Ohio
1,959
7
Pennsylvania
*297
*6
Wisconsin
1,671
10
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 10 Days
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national averageCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 11
Boater Demographics
The South Atlantic has the largest
population and the most anglers (Table
8). An examination of boaters by water
type reveals that the East North Central
region has the highest participation of
freshwater boaters. Since it is where
the Great Lakes are located, it also has
the most anglers fishing from boats in
those lakes. For saltwater boaters, the
South Atlantic had more than double the
number of boaters of any other region
with almost 2 million participants.
Fifty-two percent of the U.S. population
is female. For all anglers, this figure
drops to 25%. When comparing these
figures to boating anglers the type of
fishing that has the highest proportion
of female boaters is freshwater (22%).
Twenty percent of all saltwater boaters
were female. In the Great Lakes, females
represent 17% of all boaters. Boating
follows the trend of all fishing and
continues to be a male dominated sport.
In 2006 20% of the U.S. population was
between 35 and 44 years old and this
percentage was even higher for anglers
(25%). Angling boaters followed suit; with
a quarter or more between the ages of
35 to 44 years old. Freshwater boating
appealed to young and old alike—11%
were 16 to 24 years old and 10% were
65 years old or older. Thirty percent of
Great Lakes boaters were 55 years old or
older compared to only 25% of all anglers.
Seventy-seven percent of the U.S.
population lives in an urban area.2
Anglers are less likely to live in urban
areas. Freshwater angling boaters are
least likely to live in an urban area (57%),
2 Urban is defined as all territory, population,
and housing units located within boundaries
that encompass densely settled territory,
consisting of core census block groups or
blocks that have a population density of
at least 1,000 people per square mile and
surrounding census blocks that have an
overall density of at least 500 people per
square mile. See <http://www.census.gov/
geo/www/ua/urbanruralclass.html> for
more detailed information.
while 74% of all saltwater angling boaters
do. Sixty-five percent of boaters in the
Great Lakes live in urban areas.
Eighty-five percent of American’s had
completed 12 years of schooling or
more in 2006. Anglers followed a similar
educational pattern as the general
public. Saltwater boaters were the most
educated anglers with 34% completing
4 years of college or more. Twenty-six
percent of freshwater boaters had
completed 4 years or more of college
compared to 30% of boaters in the
Great Lakes.
Boats can cost as little as $50 for a used
kayak to over $30,000 for a premier bass
boat. Anglers and boaters alike come
from higher income households when
compared to the total U.S. population.
Forty-six percent of saltwater boating
anglers came from households earning
$75 thousand or more, as did 38% of
Great Lakes boating anglers and 32% of
freshwater boating anglers. They are all
higher than the U.S. population’s 22%.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
12 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Table 8. Boater Demographics
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
U.S. Population
Percent
Total, All Anglers
Percent
Freshwater Boaters
Percent
Great Lakes Boaters
Percent
Saltwater Boaters
Percent
Total Persons
229,245
100
29,952
100
13,073
100
1,054
100
5,304
100
Census Geographic Division
New England
11,233
5
1,246
4
520
4
NA
NA
400
8
Middle Atlantic
31,518
14
2,550
9
845
6
*193
*19
703
13
East North Central
35,609
16
5,190
17
2,534
19
738
74
NA
NA
West North Central
15,458
7
3,284
11
1,909
15
*66
*7
NA
NA
South Atlantic
43,965
19
6,116
20
2,407
18
NA
NA
1,961
37
East South Central
13,722
6
2,436
8
1,240
9
NA
NA
209
4
West South Central
25,407
11
3,952
13
1,491
11
NA
NA
848
16
Mountain
15,651
7
2,084
7
903
7
NA
NA
NA
NA
Pacific
36,681
16
3,094
10
1,225
9
NA
NA
875
16
Gender
Males
110,273
48
22,337
75
10,202
78
874
83
4,233
80
Females
118,972
52
7,615
25
2,871
22
180
17
1,070
20
Age
16–17
8,272
4
1,103
4
453
3
…
…
128
2
18–24
23,292
10
2,406
8
1,046
8
*76
*7
311
6
25–34
37,468
16
4,857
16
2,179
17
*160
*15
856
16
35–44
45,112
20
7,476
25
3,095
24
288
27
1,360
26
45–54
44,209
19
6,647
22
2,771
21
188
18
1,284
24
55–64
32,867
14
4,616
15
2,190
17
240
23
875
17
65+
38,024
17
2,847
10
1,339
10
*78
*7
489
9
Population Density
Urban
176,740
77
18,303
61
7,364
57
690
65
3,787
74
Rural
52,504
23
11,649
39
5,466
43
364
35
1,333
26
Education
0–11 years
34,621
15
4,040
13
1,607
12
*95
*9
431
8
12 years
78,073
34
10,266
34
4,545
35
352
33
1,603
30
1–3 yrs of college
53,019
23
7,590
25
3,474
27
289
27
1,443
27
4 years of college
39,506
17
5,115
17
2,271
17
209
20
1,173
22
5 yrs + of college
24,025
10
2,941
10
1,177
9
110
10
655
12
Income
Under $20,000
26,046
12
2,113
7
742
6
…
…
98
2
$20-$29,999
21,898
10
2,746
9
989
7
…
…
283
5
$30-$39,999
21,510
10
3,053
10
1,387
10
…
…
333
6
$40-$49,999
17,699
8
2,766
9
1,142
9
105
11
473
9
$50-$74,999
33,434
15
5,981
20
2,889
22
278
30
991
19
$75-$99,999
21,519
9
4,074
14
1,853
14
192
20
931
18
$100,000 or More
29,159
13
5,167
17
2,306
18
166
18
1,487
28
Not Reported
57,981
25
4,051
14
1,764
13
123
13
666
13
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29. … Sample size too small to report data reliably. Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 13
Boat Type, Length, and Completion
of Boater Safety Course
Three-fourths of the earth’s surface is
water and what better way to enjoy it
than maneuvering around in a canoe,
jon boat, yacht, or sailboat. One of the
most important decisions a boater can
make is deciding what kind of boat to
buy or rent. This depends on a number
of factors including distance to the
water, what kind of water, and conditions
of the water body. Table 9 provides
a breakdown of boaters using motor
and non-motor boats to fish by water
type as well as the length of boat used
most often.
Saltwater boaters were more likely
to use motorboats (81%) compared
to Great Lakes (79%) and freshwater
(71%) boaters. A quarter of freshwater
boaters used something other than a
motorboat, like a canoe or kayak, when
fishing. It’s difficult to judge what kind of
boat is being used by just looking at two
categories of motor and non-motor boats.
Therefore, in 2006, the information on
boating was expanded to include length
of boat used and participation in a boater
safety course.
We have seen already that saltwater
anglers were more likely to use a
motorboat and in Table 9 we also find that
saltwater anglers were the primary users
of boats over 40 feet long. Nine percent
of saltwater boaters fished from a boat 41
feet long or longer while only one percent
of freshwater boaters fished from a boat
larger than 40 feet. The most popular
length for freshwater boaters was a boat
between 13 and 16 feet long. Thirty-three
percent of freshwater boaters were
fishing from this type of vessel. As for
Great Lakes boaters, 28% were fishing
from boats 20 to 25 feet long.
Even though you’re safer on the water
than the road, accidents on the water
can happen and they can be hazardous.
There are some simple precautions
to help avoid these accidents, one of
which is participation in a boater safety
course. Boater safety courses often
cover topics like navigation rules and
regulations, vessel length and capacity,
registration information, and personal
watercraft basics. It’s not surprising
that saltwater boaters, who use the
larger vessels, had the highest boater
safety course completion rate of 29%
in 2006. Less than 20% of freshwater
anglers completed a boater safety
course while 27% of Great Lakes
boaters completed one. This still leaves
a large majority of those on the water
who have not completed a boater
safety course.
Table 9. Boat Type, Length and Completion of Boater Safety Course
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Boaters Percent Boaters Percent Boaters Percent
Fishing from Motorboats and Nonmotorboats
Total Boaters 13,073 100 1,054 100 5,304 100
Motorboat 9,257 71 828 79 4,315 81
Non-Motorboat 3,247 25 195 19 666 13
Length of Boat Used Most Often
Less than 13 feet 2,043 16 *102 *10 418 8
13 to 16 feet 4,362 33 215 20 748 14
17 to 19 feet 2,877 22 261 25 847 16
20 to 25 feet 2,000 15 292 28 1,438 27
26 to 30 feet 336 3 *70 *7 439 8
31 to 40 feet 109 1 *47 *4 362 7
41 feet or more 90 1 … … 457 9
Completing a Boater Safety Course
Completed course 2,402 18 284 27 1,518 29
Did not complete or attempt course 10,322 79 755 72 3,599 68
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because some people who fished from a boat did not own a boat and because of multiple responses and nonresponses.
14 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Who Boaters Take Fishing and
What Information They Need
Anglers Fishing Alone or with Others
Fishing from a boat can be enjoyed
with friends, family or in the solitude
of one’s own company. Eight percent of
freshwater anglers enjoyed the latter,
preferring to boat alone in 2006. This
compares to 6% of Great Lake boaters
and 5% of saltwater boaters (Table 10).
In all three water types, friends are the
most popular group boaters fish with.
It was also common for boaters to bring
spouses and other family members out
fishing. Spouses or partners accompanied
21% of boaters in freshwater, 15%
of Great Lakes boaters and 18% of
saltwater boaters.
Types of Information Boaters Need
The types of information boaters looked
for and the sources that were helpful to
find this information are presented in
Table 11.
The most popular type of information
boaters looked for was on fish species
(Table 11). Information on weather
conditions was also important,
especially for those saltwater fishing.
Around 13% of boaters were looking
for information on fishing rules and
regulations. Eleven percent of saltwater
and Great Lakes boaters needed
directions to fishing sites compared to
10% of freshwater boaters.
Sources of Boating Information
To find helpful information, boaters
relied on a variety of sources (Table 11).
The most popular source of information
was family, friends and other anglers
or boaters. The internet was another
popular source for information. Fifteen
percent of boaters in the Great Lakes
went online to find helpful information
compared to 14% for saltwater boaters
and 12% for freshwater boaters. Between
8 and 10 percent boaters found helpful
information from TV or radio shows.
Another 8% found bait and tackle shops
provided helpful information (9% for
Great Lakes boaters). Saltwater boaters
were more likely to acquire information
from magazines and newspapers
compared to freshwater and Great
Lakes boaters. Call-in service centers
appear to be a thing of the past. Only
1% of freshwater and saltwater anglers
found helpful boating information from
this source.
Sources of Boating Information By Age
Helpful sources of information may also
differ by a boater’s age. One would expect
to find a higher internet use by younger
boaters who are more likely to own a
computer and have access to the internet.
Table 12 reinforces this theory.3
Finding helpful boating information
on the internet was highest for 25 to
34-year-olds (12%). Only 5% of those 65
years old or older found helpful boating
information off the internet. Those 65 and
older find helpful information from TV
or radio sources 10% of the time. Sixty-four-
year-olds are the most frequent
users of bait and tackle shops for helpful
information. Family, friends, and other
anglers or boaters are still the most
popular sources of information for all
age categories.
3 The percents in Table 12 are the number
of angling boaters in all water types, in
each age category, who reported using each
source of information divided by the total
number of angling boaters. A boater could
have answered using more than one source
of information.
Table 10. Anglers Fishing Most Often From Boats Alone or With Others
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Fishing Alone or With Others
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Boaters Percent Boaters Percent Boaters Percent
Fished most often alone 1,593 8 *88 *6 402 5
Fished most often with friends 5,643 30 576 38 2,933 37
Fished most often with spouse/partner 4,001 21 224 15 1,410 18
Fished most often with children 2,961 16 173 11 1,153 15
Fished most often with parents 1,207 6 *143 *9 512 7
Fished most often with other family 3,021 16 325 21 1,155 15
Fished most often with other 366 2 … … 298 4
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 15
Table 11. Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater
Great Lakes
Saltwater
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Types of Information
Directions to boat launch
1,007
7
*108
*8
404
6
Directions to fishing sites
1,471
10
146
11
739
11
Boating rules and regulations
1,295
9
*108
*8
514
8
Fishing rules and regulations
2,102
14
163
12
904
13
Water attributes (e.g., depth)
1,557
11
164
12
578
9
Fish species
3,530
24
349
25
1,579
23
Weather conditions
2,853
19
303
22
1,619
24
Other
381
3
…
…
221
3
None
621
4
*52
*4
238
4
Sources of Information
Published boat guide
736
4
*88
*6
433
6
Internet
2,083
12
236
15
1,066
14
TV or radio
1,380
8
136
9
816
10
Call-in service center
160
1
…
…
*62
*1
State fish and game agency
1,213
7
*75
*5
350
4
Magazines and newspapers
1,080
6
*77
*5
570
7
Boating, fishing, outdoors shows
281
2
*62
*4
138
2
Friends, family, other anglers/boaters
3,471
19
328
21
1,504
19
Bait and tackle shop
1,394
8
138
9
649
8
Other
805
5
*75
*5
407
5
None
5,197
29
354
23
1,828
23
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Table 12. Sources of Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats by Age
(Population 16 years old and older)
Sources of Information (percent)
16–17
18–24
25–34
35–44
45–54
55–64
65+
Published boat guide
…
*1
3
4
4
6
5
Internet
*5
7
12
10
10
10
5
TV or radio
*5
4
6
5
6
9
10
Call-in service center
…
…
…
*1
*1
*1
…
State fish and game agency
…
*3
4
5
5
6
5
Magazines and newspapers
*2
*3
4
4
6
6
8
Boating, fishing, outdoors shows
…
…
*1
*1
1
2
*1
Friends, family, other anglers/boaters
12
14
15
13
16
19
17
Bait and tackle shop
*3
6
5
6
7
8
6
Other
*4
*3
3
3
4
4
5
None
27
22
23
22
20
22
23
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.16 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Boat Launches
A boat launch is a popular way for
boaters to access the water. Fifty-eight
percent of both freshwater and Great
Lakes boaters used a boat launch
on at least one of their fishing trips
in 2006. Saltwater boaters were less
likely to access a boat launch, with 46%
using them.
When a saltwater boater did access a
boat launch, they stayed close to home
with 26% traveling 5 miles or less to their
preferred launch (Table 13). Great Lakes
and freshwater boaters either traveled
a relatively short distance or a very long
distance to access a boat launch. Forty
percent of Great Lakes boaters traveled
20 miles or less to the boat launch they
used most often while another 17%
hauled their boats 101 miles or more
to their preferred launches. Forty-four
percent of freshwater boaters traveled
20 miles or less to reach their preferred
boat launch. Another 16% traveled over
100 miles to reach the launch they used
most often.
USFWS
Table 13. Boat Launches Used by Anglers
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Boaters Percent Boaters Percent Boaters Percent
Total Boaters 13,073 100 1,054 100 5,304 100
Used a boat launch 7,601 58 615 58 2,461 46
Did not use a boat launch 5,472 42 439 42 2,842 54
Distance to Boat Launch Used Most Often
5 Miles or less 1,244 16 *92 *15 632 26
6 to 20 miles 2,103 28 *156 *25 634 26
21 to 40 miles 1,337 18 *52 *8 352 14
41 to 75 miles 1,050 14 *52 *8 323 13
76 to 100 miles 441 6 … … 151 6
101 miles or more 1,208 16 105 17 335 14
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 17
State-by-State Launch Use
A state-by-state breakdown provides more information about who is accessing boat launches.
Nationally, 58% of all freshwater anglers who fished from a boat used a boat launch to access the water (Table 14). While North Dakota topped this at 83%, another ten states also had more than 58% of their freshwater anglers using boat launches (Arizona, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington).
Table 14. Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Boaters
Used a Boat Launch
Percent
US Total
13,073
7,601
58
Alaska
91
43
48
Alabama
465
265
57
Arkansas
403
166
41
Arizona
195
117
60
California
620
253
41
Colorado
166
81
48
Connecticut
85
46
54
Delaware
31
*7
*23
Florida
836
473
57
Georgia
559
172
31
Hawaii
…
…
…
Iowa
193
117
60
Idaho
164
92
56
Illinois
359
208
58
Indiana
311
168
54
Kansas
168
71
42
Kentucky
321
169
53
Louisiana
324
181
56
Massachusetts
133
52
39
Maryland
142
63
44
Maine
204
87
43
Michigan
828
412
50
Minnesota
1,086
584
54
Missouri
535
288
54
Mississippi
253
136
54
Montana
148
90
61
North Carolina
362
165
46
North Dakota
60
49
83
Nebraska
69
32
46
New Hampshire
125
36
28
New Jersey
128
53
41
New Mexico
52
*34
*65
Nevada
49
*22
*45
New York
344
*116
*34
Ohio
275
134
49
Oklahoma
318
214
67
Oregon
253
169
67
Pennsylvania
434
218
50
Rhode Island
24
*9
*35
South Carolina
386
227
59
South Dakota
83
54
64
Tennessee
463
303
65
Texas
696
388
56
Utah
172
118
68
Virginia
303
128
42
Vermont
64
18
28
Washington
308
199
65
Wisconsin
885
483
55
West Virginia
98
*45
*46
Wyoming
81
40
50
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.18 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Figure 4. Percent of Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 58%
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national average
Courtesy of Take Me FishingCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 19
Saltwater boaters were, on average, the least likely to access a boat launch. Table 15 reveals there is a lot of variability in boat launch usage by state, ranging from a high of 78% in Georgia to a low of 15% in Rhode Island.4 Coastal Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi had the highest boat launch usage by saltwater anglers.
4 Because of the small sample size, use these results with caution.
Figure 5. Percent of Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters
Table 15. Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Boaters
Used a Boat Launch
Percent
US Total
5,304
2,461
46
Alaska
162
36
22
Alabama
94
*45
*48
California
542
153
28
Connecticut
101
46
45
Delaware
70
16
23
Florida
1,513
545
36
Georgia
*84
*66
*78
Hawaii
86
18
21
Louisiana
245
142
58
Massachusetts
204
57
28
Maryland
291
99
34
Maine
49
*24
*50
Mississippi
*37
*26
*68
North Carolina
250
*65
*26
New Hampshire
32
*8
*26
New Jersey
408
80
20
New York
221
*40
*18
Oregon
109
63
58
Rhode Island
82
*12
*15
South Carolina
181
69
38
Texas
633
484
76
Virginia
256
123
48
Washington
186
118
63
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 46%
n States above the national average
n States below the national average20 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Figure 6. Percent of Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters
Fifty-eight percent of boaters in the Great Lakes accessed a boat launch at least once during a fishing trip in 2006 (Table 16). Indiana had the highest usage rate with 68% of boaters using a boat launch.
Table 16. Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Boaters
Used a Boat Launch
Percent
US Total
1,054
615
58
Illinois
43
…
…
Indiana*
41
28
68
Michigan
350
221
63
Minnesota
…
…
…
New York*
157
87
55
Ohio*
263
127
48
Pennsylvania
47
…
…
Wisconsin*
164
65
40
*States where estimates are based on sample sizes between 10 and 29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 58%
n States above the national average
n States below the national averageCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 21
Launch Facility Improvement Opinions
For boaters who used a launch, information on the conditions of their preferred launch can help state agencies assess maintenance or repairs needed for launch facilities.
Questions about whether the conditions needed to be improved at the boaters’ preferred boat launch were asked in 2006 (Table 17). Sixty percent of freshwater boaters said launch facilities did not need improvements. Great Lakes boaters were even happier with their boat launch conditions; 66% claimed facilities did not need improvements. More than half (58%) of all saltwater boaters claimed their launch facilities did not need improvements.
For those boaters not satisfied with conditions of the facilities at their preferred boat launch, the launch ramp and restrooms were the most frequently mentioned facilities to need improvements. Forty-two percent of freshwater boaters expressed a need to repair launch ramps, 40% mentioned restroom facilities, and 28% reported parking lots at launch sites. Saltwater and Great Lakes boaters’ expressed similar opinions about the launch ramps and restrooms needing improvements, although 15% or more of these boaters also reported “other” facilities as needing improvements.
Table 17. Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater
Great Lakes
Saltwater
Boat Launch
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Total boat launch users
7,601
100
615
100
2,461
100
Facilities did not need improvements
4,574
60
403
66
1,430
58
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
1,270
42
*62
*15
389
38
Courtesy dock
623
21
…
…
222
22
Parking lot
860
28
*59
*15
302
29
Restroom facilities
1,196
40
*85
*21
377
37
Fish cleaning station
613
20
…
…
245
24
Potable water
378
12
…
…
175
17
Lights
555
18
…
…
155
15
Other facilities
368
12
*62
*15
202
20
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.22 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Another way to examine where boating launch facility improvements are needed is to break down these requests by region. The following maps show which facility improvements are most important to users of boat launches in each U.S. Census division.5
The improvements mentioned continued to be restroom facilities and launch ramps. For freshwater boaters 46% or more in the New England, South Atlantic, and Pacific region said that restroom facilities needed improvements. This was higher than the national average of 40%. Between 46% and 52% of boaters in the West North Central, East South Central, West South Central, and Mountain responded that launch ramps needed to be improved, which was higher than the national average of 42%.
5 Please see the appendix for all boat launch facility improvement opinions by region.
In the Pacific region 40% of saltwater boaters reported that fish cleaning stations needed improvements and 38% reported restroom facilities needed improvements. In the Mid-Atlantic, over two thirds of boaters reported no improvements necessary to their boat launches. In New England and the West South Central, parking lots and launch ramps were the two facilities needing the most improvement. The South Atlantic saltwater boaters mentioned launch ramps and restrooms as the two facilities needing the most improvements.
When the Great Lakes boaters were broken down by division, the only reportable results came from the East North Central. Here, launch ramps and restroom facilities ranked as the top two facilities that needed improvements.
Figure 7. Most Requested Freshwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAKWestMountainWestNorth CentralWestSouthCentralEastSouthCentralSouthAtlanticEastNorth CentralMiddleAtlanticNewEnglandPacificMidwestSouthNortheastLaunch RampParking LotRestroom FacilitiesCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 23
Figure 8. Most Requested Saltwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAKWestMountainWestNorth CentralWestSouthCentralEastSouthCentralSouthAtlanticEastNorth CentralMiddleAtlanticNewEnglandPacificMidwestSouthNortheastFish Cleaning StationLaunch RampParking LotRestroom Facilities
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing24 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Boater Expenditures
Freshwater boaters spent over $6
billion in 2006 on boats, accessories,
rentals and more. This averaged $480
per angler. The motorboat, other than a
bass boat, captured the most spending
by freshwater boaters. Great Lakes
boaters spent an average of $511 for a
year of Great Lakes fishing. Saltwater
anglers spent over $3 billion on boat
rentals, equipment, and purchases in
2006. They had the highest per boater
average with $596. Due to small sample
sizes, expenditures for boat purchases
are not reported separately for Great
Lakes boaters.
Table 18. Expenditures by Boaters for Freshwater, Great Lakes and Saltwater Fishing
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Expenditure Item
Amount
(thousands
of dollars
Average
per boater
(dollars)
Amount
(thousands
of dollars
Average
per boater
(dollars)
Amount
(thousands
of dollars
Average
per boater
(dollars)
Total, all boating costs $6,276,419 $480 $538,291 $511 $3,160,113 $596
Boat Rentals $171,263 $13 $11,791 $11 $148,709 $28
Boat fuel $1,013,385 $78 $135,212 $128 $643,136 $121
Boat launch fees $84,562 $6 $13,530 $13 $36,055 $7
Depth finders, fish finders, and other electronic
fishing devices
$246,138 $19 *$20,140 *$19 $175,771 $33
Other boating costs such as mooring, storage,
maintenance, and pumpout fees
$663,797 $51 $146,329 $139 $628,398 $118
Boat Purchases
Motorboat (other than bass boat) $2,066,754 $158 … … $1,164,998 $220
Bass Boats $1,590,640 $122 … … … …
Canoes and other nonmotor boats $68,739 $5 … … *$33,047 *$6
Boat motor, trailer or hitch and other
boat accessories
$371,142 $28 … … $290,174 $55
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 25
Conclusion
Seventeen million anglers (57% of all
anglers) enjoyed recreational fishing
from a boat in the United States in 2006.
One million fished from a boat on the
Great Lakes, 13 million in freshwater
(other than the Great Lakes), and 5.3
million in saltwater. These anglers were
primarily from urban areas, male, and
middle aged.
Anglers fishing from a boat were most
often accompanied by friends, but family
members and spouses were also popular
companions. In preparing for their trips,
they mainly sought information on fish
species, weather conditions, and fishing
rules and regulations. They were most
likely to get information from family,
friends, or other boaters and anglers, as
well as off the internet.
Motorboats were the most popular type
of boat used, but the length preferred
varied by type of water fished: freshwater
anglers favored motorboats 13 to 16 feet
long, while Great Lakes and saltwater
anglers preferred 20- to 25-foot-long
boats.
Fifty-eight percent of anglers used boat
launches for access to the water for
freshwater, non-Great Lakes fishing and
for Great Lakes fishing in 2006. Saltwater
anglers were less likely to use a boat
launch, but the 46 % that did so did not
travel as far to reach one. Sixty percent
of the anglers that used boat launches
reported that the facilities they used
most often did not need improvements.
Where they reported improvements
needed, launch ramps and restrooms
topped the list.
Anglers spent a lot of money to fish
from a boat in 2006. Almost $10 billion
was spent on boats and related items
purchased primarily for fishing, such
as motors, trailers, fuel, launch fees,
mooring, and storage. Great Lakes
anglers fishing from a boat spent an
average of $511 per person, freshwater
(excluding Great Lakes) anglers spent
$480 per person, and saltwater anglers
spent $596 per person.
Boats provided access to areas far
beyond the reach of shorelines and
anglers will continue to use boats to reach
their favorite fishing holes.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
26 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Appendix: Launch Facility Improvement
Opinions by Census Region
The following three tables break down
the boat launch facility improvement
opinions by census region. Respondents
were asked if any facilities at their
preferred boat launch needed to be
improved for more efficient use. A
respondent had the flexibility to respond
that none of the facilities needed
improvements or if improvements were
needed for more efficient use, a list of
the boat launch facilities was read by
the interviewer.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 27
Table A.1. Freshwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
New
England
Percent
Middle Atlantic
Percent
East North Central
Percent
Total boat launch users
248
100
404
100
1,470
100
Facilities did not need improvements
142
57
224
55
933
64
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
40
38
*76
*42
200
37
Courtesy dock
*26
*25
*26
*14
*102
*19
Parking lot
42
40
*44
*24
118
22
Restroom facilities
50
47
*61
*34
222
41
Fish cleaning station
*21
*20
…
…
*73
*14
Potable water
*20
*19
…
…
*35
*7
Lights
*21
*20
…
…
*84
*16
Other facilities
*17
*16
…
…
*49
*9
West North Central
Percent
South
Atlantic
Percent
East South Central
Percent
Total boat launch users
1,201
100
1,240
100
856
100
Facilities did not need improvements
714
60
725
58
541
63
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
221
46
185
36
164
52
Courtesy dock
116
24
107
21
*65
*21
Parking lot
157
32
150
29
103
33
Restroom facilities
165
34
246
48
129
41
Fish cleaning station
85
17
121
23
*50
*16
Potable water
*36
*7
*77
*15
*37
*12
Lights
70
14
86
17
93
30
Other facilities
49
10
*62
*12
*32
*10
West South Central
Percent
Mountain
Percent
Pacific
Percent
Total boat launch users
896
100
581
100
706
100
Facilities did not need improvements
524
58
372
64
400
57
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
183
49
96
46
105
34
Courtesy dock
*79
*21
43
20
*60
*20
Parking lot
128
35
44
21
75
24
Restroom facilities
114
31
68
32
142
46
Fish cleaning station
104
28
43
21
97
32
Potable water
*48
*13
*23
*11
*73
*24
Lights
89
24
*29
*14
*49
*16
Other facilities
*47
*13
*45
*21
*56
*18
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.28 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Table A.2. Saltwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
New
England
Percent
Middle Atlantic
Percent
South
Atlantic
Percent
Total boat launch users
149
100
198
100
900
100
Facilities did not need improvements
80
54
122
62
507
56
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
*26
*38
41
54
123
31
Courtesy dock
*16
*23
…
…
*78
*20
Parking lot
*26
*38
…
…
92
23
Restroom facilities
*24
*35
…
…
167
42
Fish cleaning station
*12
*17
…
…
88
22
Potable water
*16
*23
…
…
78
20
Lights
*18
*26
…
…
*54
*14
Other facilities
*14
*20
…
…
*49
*12
East South Central
Percent
West South Central
Percent
Pacific
Percent
Total boat launch users
109
100
611
100
375
100
Facilities did not need improvements
*57
*52
408
67
181
48
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
*24
*47
*86
*42
70
36
Courtesy dock
…
…
48
24
*40
*21
Parking lot
…
…
*86
*42
58
30
Restroom facilities
…
…
*73
*36
75
38
Fish cleaning station
…
…
39
19
77
40
Potable water
…
…
18
9
33
17
Lights
…
…
30
15
*26
*13
Other facilities
…
…
55
27
*39
*20
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Table A.3. Great Lakes Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
East North
Central
Percent
Total boat launch users
435
100
Facilities did not need improvements
295
68
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
*46
*33
Courtesy dock
…
…
Parking lot
…
…
Restroom facilities
*51
*36
Fish cleaning station
…
…
Potable water
…
…
Lights
…
…
Other facilities
…
…
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov
December 2010
Cover photo: Courtesy of Take Me Fishing

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Report 2006-9U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
December 2010
Anna Harris
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs
Division of Policy and Programs
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Arlington, VA
This report is intended to complement the National and State Reports for the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The conclusions in this report are the author’s and do not represent official positions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The author thanks Sylvia Cabrera, Richard Aiken, and Christy Vigfusson for valuable input into this report.
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Report 2006-92 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Contents
Introduction � 3
Participation and Days by Water Type � � 4
All Boaters � 4
Freshwater Boaters � 5
Saltwater Boaters � 8
Great Lakes Boaters � 10
Boater Demographics � 11
Boat Type, Length, and Completion of Boater Safety Course � 13
Who Boaters Take Fishing and What Information They Need � 14
Anglers Fishing Alone or with Others � 14
Types of Information Boaters Need � 14
Sources of Boating Information � 14
Sources of Boating Information By Age � � 14
Boat Launches � 16
State-by-State Launch Use � 17
Launch Facility Improvement Opinions � 21
Boater Expenditures � 24
Conclusion � 25
Appendix: Launch Facility Improvement Opinions by Census Region � 26
Tables
Table 1. Anglers Fishing From Boats and Days of Participation by Type of Fishing � 4
Table 2. Freshwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred � 5
Table 3. Days Freshwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred � 6
Table 4. Saltwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred � 8
Table 5. Days Saltwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred � 9
Table 6. Great Lakes Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred � 10
Table 7. Days Great Lakes Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred � 10
Table 8. Boater Demographics � 12
Table 9. Boat Type, Length and Completion of Boater Safety Course � 13
Table 10. Anglers Fishing Most Often From Boats Alone or With Others � 14
Table 11. Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats � 15
Table 12. Sources of Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats by Age � 15
Table 13. Boat Launches Used by Anglers � 16
Table 14. Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters � � 17
Table 15. Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters � 19
Table 16. Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters � 20
Table 17. Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions � 21
Table 18. Expenditures by Boaters for Freshwater, Great Lakes and Saltwater Fishing � 24
Table A.1. Freshwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region � 27
Table A.2. Saltwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region � 28
Table A.3. Great Lakes Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region � 28
Figures
Figure 1. Average Days Freshwater Anglers Fish From a Boat � � 7
Figure 2. Average Days Saltwater Anglers Fish From a Boat � 9
Figure 3. Average Days Great Lakes Anglers Fish From a Boat � 10
Figure 4. Percent of Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters � 18
Figure 5. Percent of Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters � 19
Figure 6. Percent of Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters � 20
Figure 7. Most Requested Freshwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region � 22
Figure 8. Most Requested Saltwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region � 23Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 3
Introduction
Seventeen million anglers, 16 years of
age and older, enjoyed their fishing from
a boat in the varied fresh and marine
waters of the U.S. in 2006. They spent
over 246 million days on the water. This
report presents an analysis of their
boat use, expenditures, and selected
demographic characteristics. For
purposes of this report these individuals
are referred to as “boaters” and the types
of water fished on as either saltwater,
Great Lakes, or freshwater (excluding
the Great Lakes).
All estimates herein came from the 2006
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
(Survey). The Survey has been conducted
since 1955 and is one of the most
comprehensive databases on wildlife
recreation in the U.S. The focus of the
Survey is on anglers, hunters and wildlife
watchers—not all outdoor enthusiasts.
Therefore, this report only captures
fishing from boats—not all recreational
boating.1
1 According to the National Marine
Manufacturers Association there were 66
million adult boaters in 2009 (NMMA. 2009
Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract.
Chicago, IL).
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
4 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Participation and Days by Water Type
All Boaters
Fifty-seven percent of all anglers (17
million people) used a boat to fish in 2006
(Table 1). Forty-eight percent (246 million
days) of all fishing days were spent on
a boat.
As for the type of fishing, almost three
quarters of anglers in the Great Lakes
fished from a boat in 2006. Great Lakes
anglers also spent the biggest proportion
of their time aboard, spending 60% of
their fishing days on a boat. Almost 70%
of saltwater anglers fished from a boat
and more than half of freshwater anglers
fished from a boat. Saltwater anglers
spent 59% of their fishing days on a boat
compared to only 44% of freshwater
fishing days spent on a boat.
Table 1. Anglers Fishing From Boats and Days of Participation by Type of Fishing
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Participants and days of fishing
Total, all fishing
Freshwater, excludes
Great Lakes Great Lakes Saltwater
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Total anglers 29,952 100 25,035 100 1,420 100 7,717 100
Anglers fishing from boats 17,035 57 13,073 52 1,054 74 5,304 69
Total days of fishing 516,781 100 419,942 100 18,016 100 85,663 100
Days fishing from boats 246,038 48 185,074 44 10,728 60 50,236 59
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponses.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 5
Freshwater Boaters
A state-by-state analysis of freshwater boaters reveals that Minnesota, which prides itself on being the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” has the largest number of boaters and the highest percent of freshwater anglers fishing from boats (Table 2).
Wisconsin has the second largest number of freshwater boaters (885 thousand) while Florida ranks third in participation with 836 thousand boaters. Seventy-nine percent of freshwater anglers in Minnesota fished from boats, followed closely by Wisconsin (71%) and Michigan (70%). There are nine states where boat use by freshwater anglers is 60% or higher (Alabama, Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).
Table 2. Freshwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Anglers
Boaters
Percent
US Total
25,035
13,073
52
Alaska
191
91
48
Alabama
714
465
65
Arkansas
655
403
62
Arizona
422
195
46
California
1,224
620
51
Colorado
660
166
25
Connecticut
204
85
42
Delaware
58
31
54
Florida
1,417
836
59
Georgia
1,025
559
54
Hawaii
22
…
…
Iowa
438
193
44
Idaho
350
164
47
Illinois
777
359
46
Indiana
677
311
46
Kansas
404
168
42
Kentucky
721
321
44
Louisiana
549
324
59
Massachusetts
292
133
45
Maryland
364
142
39
Maine
303
204
67
Michigan
1,192
828
70
Minnesota
1,381
1,086
79
Missouri
1,076
535
50
Mississippi
508
253
50
Montana
291
148
51
North Carolina
884
362
41
North Dakota
106
60
56
Nebraska
198
69
35
New Hampshire
198
125
63
New Jersey
243
128
53
New Mexico
248
52
21
Nevada
142
49
35
New York
741
344
46
Ohio
982
275
28
Oklahoma
611
318
52
Oregon
491
253
52
Pennsylvania
914
434
48
Rhode Island
50
24
49
South Carolina
612
386
63
South Dakota
135
83
62
Tennessee
871
463
53
Texas
1,860
696
37
Utah
375
172
46
Virginia
622
303
49
Vermont
114
64
56
Washington
538
308
57
Wisconsin
1,253
885
71
West Virginia
376
98
26
Wyoming
203
81
40
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.6 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Anglers spent a total of 185 million days aboard a boat in freshwater, with an average of 13 days fishing from boats (Table 3).
There were 16 states with above average days (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas). Massachusetts and Alabama tied with the highest average of 18 days. Florida followed closely with an average of 17 days spent boating in freshwater. Alaska had the lowest freshwater boating days with an average of 6 days.
Table 3. Days Freshwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Days Fishing from Boats
Average Days Boating
US Total
185,074
13
Alaska
569
6
Alabama
8,196
18
Arkansas
5,842
15
Arizona
1,995
10
California
4,266
7
Colorado
1,591
10
Connecticut
1,234
14
Delaware
453
14
Florida
13,903
17
Georgia
8,139
15
Hawaii
…
…
Iowa
1,913
10
Idaho
1,759
11
Illinois
4,749
13
Indiana
3,421
11
Kansas
1,709
10
Kentucky
2,873
9
Louisiana
4,471
14
Massachusetts
2,383
18
Maryland
1,369
10
Maine
1,771
9
Michigan
11,470
14
Minnesota
16,384
15
Missouri
7,409
14
Mississippi
3,935
16
Montana
1,033
7
North Carolina
3,931
11
North Dakota
431
7
Nebraska
909
13
New Hampshire
1,294
10
New Jersey
1,569
12
New Mexico
373
7
Nevada
339
7
New York
2,776
8
Ohio
2,660
10
Oklahoma
4,547
15
Oregon
2,257
9
Pennsylvania
5,654
13
Rhode Island
252
10
South Carolina
5,784
15
South Dakota
703
8
Tennessee
7,437
16
Texas
10,810
16
Utah
1,120
7
Virginia
2,933
10
Vermont
507
8
Washington
3,312
11
Wisconsin
10,843
12
West Virginia
1,071
11
Wyoming
610
8
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 7
Figure 1. Average Days Freshwater Anglers Fish From a Boat
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 13 Days
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national average
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing8 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Saltwater Boaters
Saltwater anglers’ boating participation ranged from 90% in Alaska to 48% in North Carolina (Table 4).
Over 80% of saltwater anglers in Louisiana and New Jersey used a boat in 2006. In terms of participation, Florida has the most saltwater boaters with over 1.5 million.
Table 4. Saltwater Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Anglers
Boaters
Percent
US Total
7,717
5,304
69
Alaska
180
162
90
Alabama
153
94
62
California
761
542
71
Connecticut
157
101
65
Delaware
117
70
60
Florida
2,002
1,513
76
Georgia
146
*84
*57
Hawaii
154
86
56
Louisiana
289
245
84
Massachusetts
298
204
69
Maryland
372
291
78
Maine
100
49
49
Mississippi
*66
*37
*57
North Carolina
519
250
48
New Hampshire
47
32
69
New Jersey
496
408
82
New York
291
221
76
Oregon
150
109
72
Rhode Island
122
82
67
South Carolina
325
181
56
Texas
1,147
633
55
Virginia
352
256
73
Washington
286
186
65
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 9
Saltwater anglers spent 50 million days fishing from boats in 2006 (Table 5).
Nationally, anglers spent on average 9 days boating in saltwater. Seven states had higher average days than the U.S. total (Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Texas). New Hampshire, the state with the shortest ocean coastline of any U.S. coastal state, had the lowest average of 3 days spent fishing from a boat in saltwater.
Figure 2. Average Days Saltwater Anglers Fish From a Boat
Table 5. Days Saltwater Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in Thousands)
Days Fishing from Boats
Average Days Boating
US Total
50,236
9
Alaska
788
5
Alabama
346
4
California
4,977
9
Connecticut
1,082
11
Delaware
360
5
Florida
13,783
9
Georgia
*1,239
*15
Hawaii
481
6
Louisiana
2,503
10
Massachusetts
2,186
11
Maryland
2,318
8
Maine
315
6
Mississippi
*449
*12
North Carolina
1,519
6
New Hampshire
107
3
New Jersey
3,629
9
New York
2,722
13
Oregon
569
5
Rhode Island
606
7
South Carolina
1,351
8
Texas
6,033
10
Virginia
1,783
7
Washington
1,091
6
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 9 Days
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national average10 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Great Lakes Boaters
Seventy-four percent of all anglers in the Great Lakes used a boat to fish during 2006 (Table 6).
In the Great Lake states, Indiana had the highest reportable boater participation with 89% of its anglers fishing from a boat, Ohio anglers used boats 80% of the time and Illinois ranked third with 77%. Michigan had the largest number of boaters in the Great Lakes (350 thousand).
The days anglers spent fishing from boats in the Great Lakes totaled 10.7 million in 2006 (Table 7). The average number of days spent fishing from a boat in the Great Lakes was 10. Michigan had the largest number of days (4.3 million) while Indiana had the highest average days anglers fished from a boat (17 days).
Figure 3. Average Days Great Lakes Anglers Fish From a Boat
Table 6. Great Lakes Anglers and Boaters by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Anglers
Boaters
Percent
US Total
1,420
1,054
74
Illinois
*56
*43
*77
Indiana
*46
*41
*89
Michigan
461
350
76
Minnesota
*48
…
…
New York
247
157
64
Ohio
328
263
80
Pennsylvania
*85
*47
*55
Wisconsin
235
164
70
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Table 7. Days Great Lakes Fishing From a Boat by State Where Fishing Occurred
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Days Fishing from Boats
Average Days Boating
US Total
10,728
10
Illinois
*292
*7
Indiana
*667
*17
Michigan
4,318
13
Minnesota
…
…
New York
1,269
8
Ohio
1,959
7
Pennsylvania
*297
*6
Wisconsin
1,671
10
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 10 Days
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national averageCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 11
Boater Demographics
The South Atlantic has the largest
population and the most anglers (Table
8). An examination of boaters by water
type reveals that the East North Central
region has the highest participation of
freshwater boaters. Since it is where
the Great Lakes are located, it also has
the most anglers fishing from boats in
those lakes. For saltwater boaters, the
South Atlantic had more than double the
number of boaters of any other region
with almost 2 million participants.
Fifty-two percent of the U.S. population
is female. For all anglers, this figure
drops to 25%. When comparing these
figures to boating anglers the type of
fishing that has the highest proportion
of female boaters is freshwater (22%).
Twenty percent of all saltwater boaters
were female. In the Great Lakes, females
represent 17% of all boaters. Boating
follows the trend of all fishing and
continues to be a male dominated sport.
In 2006 20% of the U.S. population was
between 35 and 44 years old and this
percentage was even higher for anglers
(25%). Angling boaters followed suit; with
a quarter or more between the ages of
35 to 44 years old. Freshwater boating
appealed to young and old alike—11%
were 16 to 24 years old and 10% were
65 years old or older. Thirty percent of
Great Lakes boaters were 55 years old or
older compared to only 25% of all anglers.
Seventy-seven percent of the U.S.
population lives in an urban area.2
Anglers are less likely to live in urban
areas. Freshwater angling boaters are
least likely to live in an urban area (57%),
2 Urban is defined as all territory, population,
and housing units located within boundaries
that encompass densely settled territory,
consisting of core census block groups or
blocks that have a population density of
at least 1,000 people per square mile and
surrounding census blocks that have an
overall density of at least 500 people per
square mile. See for
more detailed information.
while 74% of all saltwater angling boaters
do. Sixty-five percent of boaters in the
Great Lakes live in urban areas.
Eighty-five percent of American’s had
completed 12 years of schooling or
more in 2006. Anglers followed a similar
educational pattern as the general
public. Saltwater boaters were the most
educated anglers with 34% completing
4 years of college or more. Twenty-six
percent of freshwater boaters had
completed 4 years or more of college
compared to 30% of boaters in the
Great Lakes.
Boats can cost as little as $50 for a used
kayak to over $30,000 for a premier bass
boat. Anglers and boaters alike come
from higher income households when
compared to the total U.S. population.
Forty-six percent of saltwater boating
anglers came from households earning
$75 thousand or more, as did 38% of
Great Lakes boating anglers and 32% of
freshwater boating anglers. They are all
higher than the U.S. population’s 22%.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
12 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Table 8. Boater Demographics
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
U.S. Population
Percent
Total, All Anglers
Percent
Freshwater Boaters
Percent
Great Lakes Boaters
Percent
Saltwater Boaters
Percent
Total Persons
229,245
100
29,952
100
13,073
100
1,054
100
5,304
100
Census Geographic Division
New England
11,233
5
1,246
4
520
4
NA
NA
400
8
Middle Atlantic
31,518
14
2,550
9
845
6
*193
*19
703
13
East North Central
35,609
16
5,190
17
2,534
19
738
74
NA
NA
West North Central
15,458
7
3,284
11
1,909
15
*66
*7
NA
NA
South Atlantic
43,965
19
6,116
20
2,407
18
NA
NA
1,961
37
East South Central
13,722
6
2,436
8
1,240
9
NA
NA
209
4
West South Central
25,407
11
3,952
13
1,491
11
NA
NA
848
16
Mountain
15,651
7
2,084
7
903
7
NA
NA
NA
NA
Pacific
36,681
16
3,094
10
1,225
9
NA
NA
875
16
Gender
Males
110,273
48
22,337
75
10,202
78
874
83
4,233
80
Females
118,972
52
7,615
25
2,871
22
180
17
1,070
20
Age
16–17
8,272
4
1,103
4
453
3
…
…
128
2
18–24
23,292
10
2,406
8
1,046
8
*76
*7
311
6
25–34
37,468
16
4,857
16
2,179
17
*160
*15
856
16
35–44
45,112
20
7,476
25
3,095
24
288
27
1,360
26
45–54
44,209
19
6,647
22
2,771
21
188
18
1,284
24
55–64
32,867
14
4,616
15
2,190
17
240
23
875
17
65+
38,024
17
2,847
10
1,339
10
*78
*7
489
9
Population Density
Urban
176,740
77
18,303
61
7,364
57
690
65
3,787
74
Rural
52,504
23
11,649
39
5,466
43
364
35
1,333
26
Education
0–11 years
34,621
15
4,040
13
1,607
12
*95
*9
431
8
12 years
78,073
34
10,266
34
4,545
35
352
33
1,603
30
1–3 yrs of college
53,019
23
7,590
25
3,474
27
289
27
1,443
27
4 years of college
39,506
17
5,115
17
2,271
17
209
20
1,173
22
5 yrs + of college
24,025
10
2,941
10
1,177
9
110
10
655
12
Income
Under $20,000
26,046
12
2,113
7
742
6
…
…
98
2
$20-$29,999
21,898
10
2,746
9
989
7
…
…
283
5
$30-$39,999
21,510
10
3,053
10
1,387
10
…
…
333
6
$40-$49,999
17,699
8
2,766
9
1,142
9
105
11
473
9
$50-$74,999
33,434
15
5,981
20
2,889
22
278
30
991
19
$75-$99,999
21,519
9
4,074
14
1,853
14
192
20
931
18
$100,000 or More
29,159
13
5,167
17
2,306
18
166
18
1,487
28
Not Reported
57,981
25
4,051
14
1,764
13
123
13
666
13
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29. … Sample size too small to report data reliably. Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 13
Boat Type, Length, and Completion
of Boater Safety Course
Three-fourths of the earth’s surface is
water and what better way to enjoy it
than maneuvering around in a canoe,
jon boat, yacht, or sailboat. One of the
most important decisions a boater can
make is deciding what kind of boat to
buy or rent. This depends on a number
of factors including distance to the
water, what kind of water, and conditions
of the water body. Table 9 provides
a breakdown of boaters using motor
and non-motor boats to fish by water
type as well as the length of boat used
most often.
Saltwater boaters were more likely
to use motorboats (81%) compared
to Great Lakes (79%) and freshwater
(71%) boaters. A quarter of freshwater
boaters used something other than a
motorboat, like a canoe or kayak, when
fishing. It’s difficult to judge what kind of
boat is being used by just looking at two
categories of motor and non-motor boats.
Therefore, in 2006, the information on
boating was expanded to include length
of boat used and participation in a boater
safety course.
We have seen already that saltwater
anglers were more likely to use a
motorboat and in Table 9 we also find that
saltwater anglers were the primary users
of boats over 40 feet long. Nine percent
of saltwater boaters fished from a boat 41
feet long or longer while only one percent
of freshwater boaters fished from a boat
larger than 40 feet. The most popular
length for freshwater boaters was a boat
between 13 and 16 feet long. Thirty-three
percent of freshwater boaters were
fishing from this type of vessel. As for
Great Lakes boaters, 28% were fishing
from boats 20 to 25 feet long.
Even though you’re safer on the water
than the road, accidents on the water
can happen and they can be hazardous.
There are some simple precautions
to help avoid these accidents, one of
which is participation in a boater safety
course. Boater safety courses often
cover topics like navigation rules and
regulations, vessel length and capacity,
registration information, and personal
watercraft basics. It’s not surprising
that saltwater boaters, who use the
larger vessels, had the highest boater
safety course completion rate of 29%
in 2006. Less than 20% of freshwater
anglers completed a boater safety
course while 27% of Great Lakes
boaters completed one. This still leaves
a large majority of those on the water
who have not completed a boater
safety course.
Table 9. Boat Type, Length and Completion of Boater Safety Course
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Boaters Percent Boaters Percent Boaters Percent
Fishing from Motorboats and Nonmotorboats
Total Boaters 13,073 100 1,054 100 5,304 100
Motorboat 9,257 71 828 79 4,315 81
Non-Motorboat 3,247 25 195 19 666 13
Length of Boat Used Most Often
Less than 13 feet 2,043 16 *102 *10 418 8
13 to 16 feet 4,362 33 215 20 748 14
17 to 19 feet 2,877 22 261 25 847 16
20 to 25 feet 2,000 15 292 28 1,438 27
26 to 30 feet 336 3 *70 *7 439 8
31 to 40 feet 109 1 *47 *4 362 7
41 feet or more 90 1 … … 457 9
Completing a Boater Safety Course
Completed course 2,402 18 284 27 1,518 29
Did not complete or attempt course 10,322 79 755 72 3,599 68
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because some people who fished from a boat did not own a boat and because of multiple responses and nonresponses.
14 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Who Boaters Take Fishing and
What Information They Need
Anglers Fishing Alone or with Others
Fishing from a boat can be enjoyed
with friends, family or in the solitude
of one’s own company. Eight percent of
freshwater anglers enjoyed the latter,
preferring to boat alone in 2006. This
compares to 6% of Great Lake boaters
and 5% of saltwater boaters (Table 10).
In all three water types, friends are the
most popular group boaters fish with.
It was also common for boaters to bring
spouses and other family members out
fishing. Spouses or partners accompanied
21% of boaters in freshwater, 15%
of Great Lakes boaters and 18% of
saltwater boaters.
Types of Information Boaters Need
The types of information boaters looked
for and the sources that were helpful to
find this information are presented in
Table 11.
The most popular type of information
boaters looked for was on fish species
(Table 11). Information on weather
conditions was also important,
especially for those saltwater fishing.
Around 13% of boaters were looking
for information on fishing rules and
regulations. Eleven percent of saltwater
and Great Lakes boaters needed
directions to fishing sites compared to
10% of freshwater boaters.
Sources of Boating Information
To find helpful information, boaters
relied on a variety of sources (Table 11).
The most popular source of information
was family, friends and other anglers
or boaters. The internet was another
popular source for information. Fifteen
percent of boaters in the Great Lakes
went online to find helpful information
compared to 14% for saltwater boaters
and 12% for freshwater boaters. Between
8 and 10 percent boaters found helpful
information from TV or radio shows.
Another 8% found bait and tackle shops
provided helpful information (9% for
Great Lakes boaters). Saltwater boaters
were more likely to acquire information
from magazines and newspapers
compared to freshwater and Great
Lakes boaters. Call-in service centers
appear to be a thing of the past. Only
1% of freshwater and saltwater anglers
found helpful boating information from
this source.
Sources of Boating Information By Age
Helpful sources of information may also
differ by a boater’s age. One would expect
to find a higher internet use by younger
boaters who are more likely to own a
computer and have access to the internet.
Table 12 reinforces this theory.3
Finding helpful boating information
on the internet was highest for 25 to
34-year-olds (12%). Only 5% of those 65
years old or older found helpful boating
information off the internet. Those 65 and
older find helpful information from TV
or radio sources 10% of the time. Sixty-four-
year-olds are the most frequent
users of bait and tackle shops for helpful
information. Family, friends, and other
anglers or boaters are still the most
popular sources of information for all
age categories.
3 The percents in Table 12 are the number
of angling boaters in all water types, in
each age category, who reported using each
source of information divided by the total
number of angling boaters. A boater could
have answered using more than one source
of information.
Table 10. Anglers Fishing Most Often From Boats Alone or With Others
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Fishing Alone or With Others
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Boaters Percent Boaters Percent Boaters Percent
Fished most often alone 1,593 8 *88 *6 402 5
Fished most often with friends 5,643 30 576 38 2,933 37
Fished most often with spouse/partner 4,001 21 224 15 1,410 18
Fished most often with children 2,961 16 173 11 1,153 15
Fished most often with parents 1,207 6 *143 *9 512 7
Fished most often with other family 3,021 16 325 21 1,155 15
Fished most often with other 366 2 … … 298 4
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 15
Table 11. Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater
Great Lakes
Saltwater
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Types of Information
Directions to boat launch
1,007
7
*108
*8
404
6
Directions to fishing sites
1,471
10
146
11
739
11
Boating rules and regulations
1,295
9
*108
*8
514
8
Fishing rules and regulations
2,102
14
163
12
904
13
Water attributes (e.g., depth)
1,557
11
164
12
578
9
Fish species
3,530
24
349
25
1,579
23
Weather conditions
2,853
19
303
22
1,619
24
Other
381
3
…
…
221
3
None
621
4
*52
*4
238
4
Sources of Information
Published boat guide
736
4
*88
*6
433
6
Internet
2,083
12
236
15
1,066
14
TV or radio
1,380
8
136
9
816
10
Call-in service center
160
1
…
…
*62
*1
State fish and game agency
1,213
7
*75
*5
350
4
Magazines and newspapers
1,080
6
*77
*5
570
7
Boating, fishing, outdoors shows
281
2
*62
*4
138
2
Friends, family, other anglers/boaters
3,471
19
328
21
1,504
19
Bait and tackle shop
1,394
8
138
9
649
8
Other
805
5
*75
*5
407
5
None
5,197
29
354
23
1,828
23
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Table 12. Sources of Information Used by Anglers Fishing from Boats by Age
(Population 16 years old and older)
Sources of Information (percent)
16–17
18–24
25–34
35–44
45–54
55–64
65+
Published boat guide
…
*1
3
4
4
6
5
Internet
*5
7
12
10
10
10
5
TV or radio
*5
4
6
5
6
9
10
Call-in service center
…
…
…
*1
*1
*1
…
State fish and game agency
…
*3
4
5
5
6
5
Magazines and newspapers
*2
*3
4
4
6
6
8
Boating, fishing, outdoors shows
…
…
*1
*1
1
2
*1
Friends, family, other anglers/boaters
12
14
15
13
16
19
17
Bait and tackle shop
*3
6
5
6
7
8
6
Other
*4
*3
3
3
4
4
5
None
27
22
23
22
20
22
23
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.16 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Boat Launches
A boat launch is a popular way for
boaters to access the water. Fifty-eight
percent of both freshwater and Great
Lakes boaters used a boat launch
on at least one of their fishing trips
in 2006. Saltwater boaters were less
likely to access a boat launch, with 46%
using them.
When a saltwater boater did access a
boat launch, they stayed close to home
with 26% traveling 5 miles or less to their
preferred launch (Table 13). Great Lakes
and freshwater boaters either traveled
a relatively short distance or a very long
distance to access a boat launch. Forty
percent of Great Lakes boaters traveled
20 miles or less to the boat launch they
used most often while another 17%
hauled their boats 101 miles or more
to their preferred launches. Forty-four
percent of freshwater boaters traveled
20 miles or less to reach their preferred
boat launch. Another 16% traveled over
100 miles to reach the launch they used
most often.
USFWS
Table 13. Boat Launches Used by Anglers
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Boaters Percent Boaters Percent Boaters Percent
Total Boaters 13,073 100 1,054 100 5,304 100
Used a boat launch 7,601 58 615 58 2,461 46
Did not use a boat launch 5,472 42 439 42 2,842 54
Distance to Boat Launch Used Most Often
5 Miles or less 1,244 16 *92 *15 632 26
6 to 20 miles 2,103 28 *156 *25 634 26
21 to 40 miles 1,337 18 *52 *8 352 14
41 to 75 miles 1,050 14 *52 *8 323 13
76 to 100 miles 441 6 … … 151 6
101 miles or more 1,208 16 105 17 335 14
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 17
State-by-State Launch Use
A state-by-state breakdown provides more information about who is accessing boat launches.
Nationally, 58% of all freshwater anglers who fished from a boat used a boat launch to access the water (Table 14). While North Dakota topped this at 83%, another ten states also had more than 58% of their freshwater anglers using boat launches (Arizona, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington).
Table 14. Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Boaters
Used a Boat Launch
Percent
US Total
13,073
7,601
58
Alaska
91
43
48
Alabama
465
265
57
Arkansas
403
166
41
Arizona
195
117
60
California
620
253
41
Colorado
166
81
48
Connecticut
85
46
54
Delaware
31
*7
*23
Florida
836
473
57
Georgia
559
172
31
Hawaii
…
…
…
Iowa
193
117
60
Idaho
164
92
56
Illinois
359
208
58
Indiana
311
168
54
Kansas
168
71
42
Kentucky
321
169
53
Louisiana
324
181
56
Massachusetts
133
52
39
Maryland
142
63
44
Maine
204
87
43
Michigan
828
412
50
Minnesota
1,086
584
54
Missouri
535
288
54
Mississippi
253
136
54
Montana
148
90
61
North Carolina
362
165
46
North Dakota
60
49
83
Nebraska
69
32
46
New Hampshire
125
36
28
New Jersey
128
53
41
New Mexico
52
*34
*65
Nevada
49
*22
*45
New York
344
*116
*34
Ohio
275
134
49
Oklahoma
318
214
67
Oregon
253
169
67
Pennsylvania
434
218
50
Rhode Island
24
*9
*35
South Carolina
386
227
59
South Dakota
83
54
64
Tennessee
463
303
65
Texas
696
388
56
Utah
172
118
68
Virginia
303
128
42
Vermont
64
18
28
Washington
308
199
65
Wisconsin
885
483
55
West Virginia
98
*45
*46
Wyoming
81
40
50
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.18 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Figure 4. Percent of Launch Usage by Freshwater Boaters
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 58%
n States above the national average
n States at the national average
n States below the national average
Courtesy of Take Me FishingCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 19
Saltwater boaters were, on average, the least likely to access a boat launch. Table 15 reveals there is a lot of variability in boat launch usage by state, ranging from a high of 78% in Georgia to a low of 15% in Rhode Island.4 Coastal Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi had the highest boat launch usage by saltwater anglers.
4 Because of the small sample size, use these results with caution.
Figure 5. Percent of Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters
Table 15. Launch Usage by Saltwater Boaters
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Boaters
Used a Boat Launch
Percent
US Total
5,304
2,461
46
Alaska
162
36
22
Alabama
94
*45
*48
California
542
153
28
Connecticut
101
46
45
Delaware
70
16
23
Florida
1,513
545
36
Georgia
*84
*66
*78
Hawaii
86
18
21
Louisiana
245
142
58
Massachusetts
204
57
28
Maryland
291
99
34
Maine
49
*24
*50
Mississippi
*37
*26
*68
North Carolina
250
*65
*26
New Hampshire
32
*8
*26
New Jersey
408
80
20
New York
221
*40
*18
Oregon
109
63
58
Rhode Island
82
*12
*15
South Carolina
181
69
38
Texas
633
484
76
Virginia
256
123
48
Washington
186
118
63
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 46%
n States above the national average
n States below the national average20 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Figure 6. Percent of Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters
Fifty-eight percent of boaters in the Great Lakes accessed a boat launch at least once during a fishing trip in 2006 (Table 16). Indiana had the highest usage rate with 68% of boaters using a boat launch.
Table 16. Launch Usage by Great Lakes Boaters
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Boaters
Used a Boat Launch
Percent
US Total
1,054
615
58
Illinois
43
…
…
Indiana*
41
28
68
Michigan
350
221
63
Minnesota
…
…
…
New York*
157
87
55
Ohio*
263
127
48
Pennsylvania
47
…
…
Wisconsin*
164
65
40
*States where estimates are based on sample sizes between 10 and 29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAK
National Average: 58%
n States above the national average
n States below the national averageCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 21
Launch Facility Improvement Opinions
For boaters who used a launch, information on the conditions of their preferred launch can help state agencies assess maintenance or repairs needed for launch facilities.
Questions about whether the conditions needed to be improved at the boaters’ preferred boat launch were asked in 2006 (Table 17). Sixty percent of freshwater boaters said launch facilities did not need improvements. Great Lakes boaters were even happier with their boat launch conditions; 66% claimed facilities did not need improvements. More than half (58%) of all saltwater boaters claimed their launch facilities did not need improvements.
For those boaters not satisfied with conditions of the facilities at their preferred boat launch, the launch ramp and restrooms were the most frequently mentioned facilities to need improvements. Forty-two percent of freshwater boaters expressed a need to repair launch ramps, 40% mentioned restroom facilities, and 28% reported parking lots at launch sites. Saltwater and Great Lakes boaters’ expressed similar opinions about the launch ramps and restrooms needing improvements, although 15% or more of these boaters also reported “other” facilities as needing improvements.
Table 17. Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
Freshwater
Great Lakes
Saltwater
Boat Launch
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Boaters
Percent
Total boat launch users
7,601
100
615
100
2,461
100
Facilities did not need improvements
4,574
60
403
66
1,430
58
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
1,270
42
*62
*15
389
38
Courtesy dock
623
21
…
…
222
22
Parking lot
860
28
*59
*15
302
29
Restroom facilities
1,196
40
*85
*21
377
37
Fish cleaning station
613
20
…
…
245
24
Potable water
378
12
…
…
175
17
Lights
555
18
…
…
155
15
Other facilities
368
12
*62
*15
202
20
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.22 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Another way to examine where boating launch facility improvements are needed is to break down these requests by region. The following maps show which facility improvements are most important to users of boat launches in each U.S. Census division.5
The improvements mentioned continued to be restroom facilities and launch ramps. For freshwater boaters 46% or more in the New England, South Atlantic, and Pacific region said that restroom facilities needed improvements. This was higher than the national average of 40%. Between 46% and 52% of boaters in the West North Central, East South Central, West South Central, and Mountain responded that launch ramps needed to be improved, which was higher than the national average of 42%.
5 Please see the appendix for all boat launch facility improvement opinions by region.
In the Pacific region 40% of saltwater boaters reported that fish cleaning stations needed improvements and 38% reported restroom facilities needed improvements. In the Mid-Atlantic, over two thirds of boaters reported no improvements necessary to their boat launches. In New England and the West South Central, parking lots and launch ramps were the two facilities needing the most improvement. The South Atlantic saltwater boaters mentioned launch ramps and restrooms as the two facilities needing the most improvements.
When the Great Lakes boaters were broken down by division, the only reportable results came from the East North Central. Here, launch ramps and restroom facilities ranked as the top two facilities that needed improvements.
Figure 7. Most Requested Freshwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAKWestMountainWestNorth CentralWestSouthCentralEastSouthCentralSouthAtlanticEastNorth CentralMiddleAtlanticNewEnglandPacificMidwestSouthNortheastLaunch RampParking LotRestroom FacilitiesCasting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 23
Figure 8. Most Requested Saltwater Boat Launch Facility Improvements by Census Region
FLNMHIDEMDTXOKKSNESDNDMTWYCOUTIDAZNVWACAORKYMENYPAMIVTNHMARICTVAWVOHINILNCTNSCALMSARLAMOIAMNWINJGAAKWestMountainWestNorth CentralWestSouthCentralEastSouthCentralSouthAtlanticEastNorth CentralMiddleAtlanticNewEnglandPacificMidwestSouthNortheastFish Cleaning StationLaunch RampParking LotRestroom Facilities
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing24 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Boater Expenditures
Freshwater boaters spent over $6
billion in 2006 on boats, accessories,
rentals and more. This averaged $480
per angler. The motorboat, other than a
bass boat, captured the most spending
by freshwater boaters. Great Lakes
boaters spent an average of $511 for a
year of Great Lakes fishing. Saltwater
anglers spent over $3 billion on boat
rentals, equipment, and purchases in
2006. They had the highest per boater
average with $596. Due to small sample
sizes, expenditures for boat purchases
are not reported separately for Great
Lakes boaters.
Table 18. Expenditures by Boaters for Freshwater, Great Lakes and Saltwater Fishing
Freshwater Great Lakes Saltwater
Expenditure Item
Amount
(thousands
of dollars
Average
per boater
(dollars)
Amount
(thousands
of dollars
Average
per boater
(dollars)
Amount
(thousands
of dollars
Average
per boater
(dollars)
Total, all boating costs $6,276,419 $480 $538,291 $511 $3,160,113 $596
Boat Rentals $171,263 $13 $11,791 $11 $148,709 $28
Boat fuel $1,013,385 $78 $135,212 $128 $643,136 $121
Boat launch fees $84,562 $6 $13,530 $13 $36,055 $7
Depth finders, fish finders, and other electronic
fishing devices
$246,138 $19 *$20,140 *$19 $175,771 $33
Other boating costs such as mooring, storage,
maintenance, and pumpout fees
$663,797 $51 $146,329 $139 $628,398 $118
Boat Purchases
Motorboat (other than bass boat) $2,066,754 $158 … … $1,164,998 $220
Bass Boats $1,590,640 $122 … … … …
Canoes and other nonmotor boats $68,739 $5 … … *$33,047 *$6
Boat motor, trailer or hitch and other
boat accessories
$371,142 $28 … … $290,174 $55
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 25
Conclusion
Seventeen million anglers (57% of all
anglers) enjoyed recreational fishing
from a boat in the United States in 2006.
One million fished from a boat on the
Great Lakes, 13 million in freshwater
(other than the Great Lakes), and 5.3
million in saltwater. These anglers were
primarily from urban areas, male, and
middle aged.
Anglers fishing from a boat were most
often accompanied by friends, but family
members and spouses were also popular
companions. In preparing for their trips,
they mainly sought information on fish
species, weather conditions, and fishing
rules and regulations. They were most
likely to get information from family,
friends, or other boaters and anglers, as
well as off the internet.
Motorboats were the most popular type
of boat used, but the length preferred
varied by type of water fished: freshwater
anglers favored motorboats 13 to 16 feet
long, while Great Lakes and saltwater
anglers preferred 20- to 25-foot-long
boats.
Fifty-eight percent of anglers used boat
launches for access to the water for
freshwater, non-Great Lakes fishing and
for Great Lakes fishing in 2006. Saltwater
anglers were less likely to use a boat
launch, but the 46 % that did so did not
travel as far to reach one. Sixty percent
of the anglers that used boat launches
reported that the facilities they used
most often did not need improvements.
Where they reported improvements
needed, launch ramps and restrooms
topped the list.
Anglers spent a lot of money to fish
from a boat in 2006. Almost $10 billion
was spent on boats and related items
purchased primarily for fishing, such
as motors, trailers, fuel, launch fees,
mooring, and storage. Great Lakes
anglers fishing from a boat spent an
average of $511 per person, freshwater
(excluding Great Lakes) anglers spent
$480 per person, and saltwater anglers
spent $596 per person.
Boats provided access to areas far
beyond the reach of shorelines and
anglers will continue to use boats to reach
their favorite fishing holes.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
26 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Appendix: Launch Facility Improvement
Opinions by Census Region
The following three tables break down
the boat launch facility improvement
opinions by census region. Respondents
were asked if any facilities at their
preferred boat launch needed to be
improved for more efficient use. A
respondent had the flexibility to respond
that none of the facilities needed
improvements or if improvements were
needed for more efficient use, a list of
the boat launch facilities was read by
the interviewer.
Courtesy of Take Me Fishing
Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats 27
Table A.1. Freshwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
New
England
Percent
Middle Atlantic
Percent
East North Central
Percent
Total boat launch users
248
100
404
100
1,470
100
Facilities did not need improvements
142
57
224
55
933
64
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
40
38
*76
*42
200
37
Courtesy dock
*26
*25
*26
*14
*102
*19
Parking lot
42
40
*44
*24
118
22
Restroom facilities
50
47
*61
*34
222
41
Fish cleaning station
*21
*20
…
…
*73
*14
Potable water
*20
*19
…
…
*35
*7
Lights
*21
*20
…
…
*84
*16
Other facilities
*17
*16
…
…
*49
*9
West North Central
Percent
South
Atlantic
Percent
East South Central
Percent
Total boat launch users
1,201
100
1,240
100
856
100
Facilities did not need improvements
714
60
725
58
541
63
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
221
46
185
36
164
52
Courtesy dock
116
24
107
21
*65
*21
Parking lot
157
32
150
29
103
33
Restroom facilities
165
34
246
48
129
41
Fish cleaning station
85
17
121
23
*50
*16
Potable water
*36
*7
*77
*15
*37
*12
Lights
70
14
86
17
93
30
Other facilities
49
10
*62
*12
*32
*10
West South Central
Percent
Mountain
Percent
Pacific
Percent
Total boat launch users
896
100
581
100
706
100
Facilities did not need improvements
524
58
372
64
400
57
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
183
49
96
46
105
34
Courtesy dock
*79
*21
43
20
*60
*20
Parking lot
128
35
44
21
75
24
Restroom facilities
114
31
68
32
142
46
Fish cleaning station
104
28
43
21
97
32
Potable water
*48
*13
*23
*11
*73
*24
Lights
89
24
*29
*14
*49
*16
Other facilities
*47
*13
*45
*21
*56
*18
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.28 Casting Beyond the Bow: An Examination of Anglers Fishing From Boats
Table A.2. Saltwater Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
New
England
Percent
Middle Atlantic
Percent
South
Atlantic
Percent
Total boat launch users
149
100
198
100
900
100
Facilities did not need improvements
80
54
122
62
507
56
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
*26
*38
41
54
123
31
Courtesy dock
*16
*23
…
…
*78
*20
Parking lot
*26
*38
…
…
92
23
Restroom facilities
*24
*35
…
…
167
42
Fish cleaning station
*12
*17
…
…
88
22
Potable water
*16
*23
…
…
78
20
Lights
*18
*26
…
…
*54
*14
Other facilities
*14
*20
…
…
*49
*12
East South Central
Percent
West South Central
Percent
Pacific
Percent
Total boat launch users
109
100
611
100
375
100
Facilities did not need improvements
*57
*52
408
67
181
48
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
*24
*47
*86
*42
70
36
Courtesy dock
…
…
48
24
*40
*21
Parking lot
…
…
*86
*42
58
30
Restroom facilities
…
…
*73
*36
75
38
Fish cleaning station
…
…
39
19
77
40
Potable water
…
…
18
9
33
17
Lights
…
…
30
15
*26
*13
Other facilities
…
…
55
27
*39
*20
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.
Table A.3. Great Lakes Boat Launch Facilities Improvement Opinions By Region
(Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands)
East North
Central
Percent
Total boat launch users
435
100
Facilities did not need improvements
295
68
Facilities that needed improvements:
Launch ramp
*46
*33
Courtesy dock
…
…
Parking lot
…
…
Restroom facilities
*51
*36
Fish cleaning station
…
…
Potable water
…
…
Lights
…
…
Other facilities
…
…
*Estimate based on a sample size of 10–29.
… Sample size too small to report data reliably.
Note: Detail does not add to total because of multiple response and nonresponses.U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov
December 2010
Cover photo: Courtesy of Take Me Fishing